Leonard Swindley bids a fond farewell to Gamma Garments and takes up the position of Assistant Manager with the Northern branch of national chain store, Dobson and Hawks. His manager, Ernest Parbold, suffers from stomach trouble and is not one to suffer in silence. He sees Swindley as another fly-by-night appointment and is happy to lay the blame on Swindley if it makes his life easier.

Miss Sinclair is in charge of the floor staff and, together with the canteen manageress, Mrs Edgeley, provides Swindley with some sympathetic support in his new role. However, he is still capable of looking permanently harrassed and over-reaching himself in his search for social acceptance.